Frequently Asked Questions

Questions we are frequently asked by new clients in Sydney...

OneSite Finance is built on helping First Home Buyers, Upgraders, Home Builders, Property Investors, and those looking to refinance their existing home loans.

We pride ourselves on providing no-obligation, independent advice, and 5-Star customer service.

Mortgage Brokers & The Home Loan Process

Why should I see a Mortgage Broker rather than my Bank?

When applying for a loan directly through a bank, you are limited to the small range of loan products they offer. And the rates and discounts they offer to "walk-in" or branch customers.

In short... Your bank, as good as they may be, can only ever show you their own home loan products.

You could try to compare their loans with other banks. But that would take hours of making phone calls, filling in applications, negotiating for discounts, and analysing a spreadsheet of confusing data. The process is a fair bit more complicated than comparing phone plans and that is often hard enough.

A good mortgage broker has a proven system to compare rates, fees and conditions from a variety of lenders. They will do all the research, administration and negotiation on your behalf – saving you many hours of tedious work and potentially uncomfortable conversations.

In short, we make it easy for you to get the most suitable loan with the least amount of stress.

How is OneSite Finance different to other Mortgage Brokers?

Any Mortgage Broker can find you a loan. But not all have the network, knowledge and experience to get you the most suitable one. We look at you as a long-term client and consider your long term needs. You can see this in the reviews we've collected over the years. We always look at how to save you years of repayments and fees.

The expert Mortgage Brokers at OneSite Finance not only guarantee to find you the most suitable loan, we automatically review your loan each year to ensure you always have the best deal available. Your bank is not going to do that.

And we offer advice on how you can redirect any savings to pay your loan off sooner or invest for greater returns in the future. We help you keep more cash in your pocket today and in the future.

For more information, here are the 9 Ways Our Mortgage Brokers Help Sydney Home Owners and Investors Get the Most Suitable Loan and Save Thousands in Mortgage Repayments, Fees, and Taxes.

How much can I borrow?

This is a hard question to answer without knowing some information about your situation. Mainly:

Your goals. What are you looking to achieve?
Your income & expenses. What do you earn? What do you spend?
Your assets & liabilities. What do you own? How much debt do you have?
Your family situation. Are you married, single, have children etc.

During your Free Home Loan Strategy Session one of our expert Mortgage Brokers will analyse your situation and give you an accurate idea of your borrowing capacity.

If you're ready to purchase, we can arrange a full Loan Pre-Approval so when you find the right property, the funds are ready to go. This places you at an advantage when negotiating for your next property.

The following video will give you a breakdown of the factors affecting your borrowing capacity.

Can I negotiate a better rate with the banks on my own?

Yes... Some people are able to negotiate a better rate with their own bank. But many find the process stressful, time-consuming and uncomfortable. And it doesn't guarantee you will get the most suitable loan available.

In other words, even with a better rate, you still may be paying more than necessary. A better rate is nothing if your loan product does not have an offset account. Or does not allow you to make extra repayments for instance.

A good mortgage broker will look after all the research, negotiation, and administration, saving you hours of work and potentially confronting conversations.

The ultimate goal is to ensure you have the most suitable loan for your situation. Not necessarily the loan with the lowest interest rate.

How much does OneSite FInance charge?

Using a mortgage broker costs you absolutely nothing. We get paid by the bank you select at the end of the purchase or refinance process.

The banks do pay us a commission for bringing them loans. This is money the banks would have spent on marketing to attract new clients and also to process new home loan applications.

A lot of banks have reduced the number of branches and the capability of the Lending Managers within those branches in order to cut costs and drive greater economic efficiencies.

You will usually get a better deal through a mortgage broker because unlike banks, we are independent. We’re not limited to showing you the home loan products from one lender. OneSite Finance has a panel of 40 lenders covering the Big 4, mid-tier banks, international banks as well as credit unions and building societies.

What type of loans do you specialise in?

We help clients all around Sydney with all types of home loans including loans to purchase your first home, upgrade your existing home, loans for land and construction, refinance, and loans to help you invest in property.

We help busy Professionals research and obtain their home loans with as little as 5% deposit, and No LMI. The professionals we help include:

Medical Industry Professionals including Medical Specialists, Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, and Veterinary Industry Professionals
Legal Industry Professionals including Solicitors, QCs, and other legal practitioners
Accounting Professionals including Chartered Accountants (CAs), Auditors, Actuaries, Financial Controllers, and other accounting industry professionals
Mining, Energy & Resource Industry Professionals including Engineers, Surveyors, Mine Surveyors, Quantity Surveyors and Geologists
Information Technology Professionals including Engineers, Software Developers, System Administrators, Project Managers, and other IT practitioners

Is your advice biased and based on the commissions you receive?

Not at all... OneSite Finance is completely independent. We can compare hundreds of loans and loan products from a panel of more than 40 lenders to ensure you always have the most suitable loan for your situation. Now and in the future.

We get paid the almost the same commission regardless of which lender you choose. Additionally, we disclose all commissions to clients prior to lodging any loan applications.

That said, we have a 15+ year track record of serving our clients' best interests. Our goal is not to just make sales. We are dedicated to forging long term relationships as you can see from the reviews and testimonials we've accumulated over the years.

Our advice is independent, fully transparent, always impartial, and in your best interest.

Are there exit fees when changing home loans?

Yes... Exit fees and penalties are charged to cover the costs incurred by the bank to attract you as a client, to assess you as a credit risk and to process your home loan application.

Exit fees can often be eliminated or reduced if you negotiate with the bank. In any case, our comprehensive analysis on loan refinances and reviews takes all penalties and fees into account to ensure you get the best financial outcome.

What is the difference between a Loan Pre-Approval and an approval estimate?

An approval estimate is a high-level estimate of the amount a lender is willing to lend you. Some brokers and lenders use Approval Estimates to avoid the cost in time and effort required to assess your situation properly.

Sadly, some home buyers and investors sign contracts based on what they think is a Loan Pre-Approval only to discover it was only an approval estimate. This not only causes significant stress, but it can also put the transaction at risk and lead to you losing out on the property and potentially losing your deposit. This is especially true if your situation changes.

OneSite Finance always proceeds with a Loan Pre-Approval application which when granted means you can search for and bid on a property knowing the funds you need will be there when called on.

I’m starting to think about buying a home, when is the best time to see a Mortgage Broker?

The sooner the better. We don’t merely help you research and find the most suitable loan. We answer all your questions and help you through the entire process from start to finish. We especially enjoy guiding First Home Buyers bring their home ownership dreams come to life.

So, whether you're ready to make an offer on a property, you're thinking about buying your first house, or you're just wondering if you may be able to save some money on your mortgage, book your Free Home Loan Strategy Session and benefit from our years of experience.

There’s no obligation and absolutely nothing to lose.

Where's the best suburb to buy in around Sydney?

Enquire Now. Book Your FREE Home Loan Strategy Session

Discover how to get the right home or investment property loan and save years and thousands in repayments, fees and taxes

Free Loan Strategy Session

Gabrielle M.

Liz helped us from start to finish with our home loan and we cannot thank her enough! Liz supported and educated us along the way... read more read less -

Zander a.

We have been dealing with Liz as a mortgage broker since we purchased our first home in 2005. Since then we have come to... read more read less -

A G.

Liz is a super efficient and helpful broker. She was available 24/7 to answer any of our questions which I am sure you will not... read more read less -
James

Norman has been assisting us for our first home purchase for the last 9 months. Never realized that the biggest spending is also the most... read more read less -

So T.

When I refinanced from State Custodian to CBA last year with Andi's help, I got very competitive rates. Andi was willing to travel more than... read more read less -

Kate D.

I have had the pleasure of working with Liz when purchasing 2 different properties. Her attention to detail & efficiency are second to none! I... read more read less -
A G.

We are first-time home buyers and had an excellent experience working with Norman getting finance our first home. He was extremely meticulous explaining the options... read more read less -

A G.

Liz has been my mortgage broker for several years now and I cannot recommend her and OneSite enough. She secured a loan for me for... read more read less -

Dorothy L.

I've worked professionally with Liz from OneSite Finance in the past, and she was always reliable and attentive. I was impressed with her manner and... read more read less -
Maria P.

We are very pleased with the service provided by Norman from OneSite Finance. Norman made our first home buying process a breeze through briefing us... read more read less -

Emma B.

Liz has helped me through one mortgage and 2-3 remortgages/restructures and I cannot speak more highly of her. She has integrity, perseverance (negotiates hard!), and... read more read less -

Kyaw O.

I don't usually leave reviews ,but my experience with OneSite Finance deserve it . It was perfect from start to finish. Liz & Karen are... read more read less -
Vivi S.

Liz has been our mortgage broker since 2012. We appreciate her help in getting us the loan for our various property purchases, restructuring our loans... read more read less -

Sabine T.

We have been working with Liz and Onesite back in 2009 for our 1st purchase and very recently for another one. Liz provides you with... read more read less -

Tim H.

Approaching the home loan process we were unsure whether to engage a mortgage broker to assist but we're so glad we did. Liz was great... read more read less -